Shrink cover machine for raised products



Dec. 31, 1963 J. w. HARRISON 3,115,735

` SHRINK' covER MACHINE FoR RAISEDPRoDucTs Filed Jan. 3l, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 'l S x Il ll H. 2 wf 21| i Il Il 1! mk f "w s l N -b v/ l v I: I v9. C" N m o l; D r l INVENTOR JOHN W HARRISON ATTORNEYS Dec. 31, 1963 J. w. HARRISON 3,115,735

SHRINK COVER MACHINE FOR RAISED PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 3l, T961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 CEL INVENTOR JOHN HARRISON BYMWJ/wLMua) ATTORNEY HARRISON 3,1 15,1735

JOHN W HARRISON v BY MMMJ/ 5MM TTRNEY United States Patent O assigner to W. R. of

The herein described invention relates to the packaging of mounded products carried in a container. More .specically, the invention relates to a product carried in a container wherein at least a portion of the product extends upwardly above the top of the container walls.

Generally, the apparatus described provides a. means for tightly covering products having raised portions by shrinking a coverrnaterial of heat shrinkable hlm over the product and a portion of the container in which the product is carried. l

This apparatus is particularly suited for applying heat shrinkagle cover material to products which are unable to be subjected to heat for any length of time. Means are provided during the packaging whereby the product being covered will be insulated and not affected by the heat which is necessary to shrink the -cover material into engagement with the container.

An object of the invention is a packaging apparatus for applying a heat shrinkable covering material to. a container having a product carried therein with portions eX- tending above the height of the container walls.

Another object of the invention is an an apparatus for packaging products with a heat shrinkable cover inater-ial having means to protect the product from the heat which is used to shrink the cover.

Another object of the invention is an apparatus for applying a heat shrinkable cover material to a packaged product into engagement with the container and the product in two stages.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent when referring to` the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings, where- FIGURE l is a side elevation of the packaging apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the packaging apparatus with parts in section,

FIGURE 3 -is a View taken on line 2 2 of FIGURE l with parts in section, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the packaging apparatus illustrating the packaged product in its Ifirst, intermediate and final stage of being covered.

Referring to FIGURE l the packaging apparatus lo is supported on a frame work comprised of vert-ical support members 12, 14, 16 and i8, identical ver-tical supports are situated along the opposite edge of the apparatus. The vertical supports are connected by means of longitudinal rail members 20 and 22, one of which is shown. Supported within the frame :is a drive means l24 of any suitable type which through a gear reduction unit 26 and operatively connected chains or belts and pulleys furnishes the motive power to drive the conveyor 28. Vertical suppor-ts 30, 32, 34 and 36, two of which are shown, are pivotally secured adjacent the conveyor 28. The vertical supports 30 and 32 are operatively connected to each other by cross member 38. Vertical supports 34 land 36 are operatively connected in the same manner. Between each pair of vertical supports Sil-34 and .S2-36 are supported rollers 40 and 4?. means are provided whereby either or both of the rollers 4o and `42; may be operatively connected to a portion of the drive means for the con- 3,ll5,735 Patented Dec. 31, i953 ice veyor 23. Supported loosely from rollers 4d and 42 is a flexible sponge silicone rubber belt member 44. The connection between the drive means 28 and either or bo-th of the rollers 4@ and 42 causes the sponge rubber bel-t member 44 to be driven at the same speed as conveyor 28. This is a necessary Ifunction of the appara-tus, the reasons for which will be later described.

The peripheral edges of the sponge rubber belt 44 are supported for a part of their length by rail members 46 and 48, one of which is shown. Also, the peripheral edges of the belt 44 are guided by means of roller 49, secured to cross member 38, an identical roller is secured to a similar cross member attached to vertical supports 34 and 36. Shown is a forced circulation heater S2 the outlet of which is aligned with an opening in rail member 46. An identical forced circulation heater (not shown) has its outlet secured to an identical rail member adjacent the other edge of the conveyor 2b. (The outlet of the heaters is in communication with the area defined by the conveyor 28, rail member y46 and its iden-tical counter part and the sponge rubber belt 44 whereby the said area defines an open ended oven through which the product to be packaged passes. The distance between the conveyor 28 and the lower flight of sponge rubber belt 44 is such that it is less than the height of the product which is to be packaged. In this manner when the cover material is applied over the product and container it will be caued to drape the over the side walls of the container during its passage under sponge rubber belt 44.

A packaged product is shown prior to its passage under the beit 44 at the inlet end of the packaging apparatus 10. The product has applied thereto a heat shrinkable cover material 53. As previously stated, the conveyor 2S and the sponge rubber belt 44 are driven at the same speed and the loosely applied cover material 53 is not displaced during its passage under the sponge rubber belt 44. Because of the space between the conveyor 28 and the lower flight of sponge rubber belt 44 being less than the height of the packaged product passing thereunder, a portion of the cover material 53 is caused to drape over the wall portions of the container in which the product is carried. The product itself is covered by the sponge rubber belt 44 engaging the same and conforming to the contour of the product. after passing out from under the sponge rubber belt 44 and having had the draped portions of the cover material shrunk into engagement with the container. The portions of the cover material 53 which overlie the product has not been effected.

The sponge rubber belt 44 has inherent insulating characteristics which, when in overlying relation to the product passing thereunder, prevents damage to the product by the heat used to elfect shrinking of the cover material. Spaced longitudinally from the sponge rubber belt member 44, is a secondary oven 54 through which the packaged product passes during the final shrinking stage of the cover material 53. The interior temperature of the oven 54 is elevated by means of heaters 56 and 58, 56 being shown. Heater 56 is identical to the forced circulation heater 52 which is used to heat the interior of the primary oven. During the passage of the packaged product through the oven 54, the portion of the shrinkable cover material 53 which has not been effected by the heat during its passage under the loosely hanging sponge rubber belt 44 is caused to shrink tightly into engagement with the portion of the product extending above the container walls. The time taken for the packaged product to pass through the oven 54 is not suiiicient to affect the product. The product with the cover material 53 completely shrunk is shown after having passed through secondary oven 54.

In FIGURE 2 the apparatus is shown with parts in section illustrating the spacing between the sponge rubber The packaged product is shown l belt 44 and the conveyor 28. Also shown are pivotally mounted vertical supports 34 and 36, rollers 4d and 42 on which the sponge rubber belt i4 is supported. One of the rail members is shown and also a portion of the opening 57 in the wall thereof through which the heat from a forced circulation heater, identical to heater 52, passes and contacts the draped portion of the cover material 53 when the packaged product is passing under the sponge rubber belt d4. Also shown is one of the openings 59 in the wall portion of the secondary oven 54 through which heat is admitted. The heat being furnished by forced circulation heater Sti.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown a section of the primary oven, the area of which is defined by the lower flight of Sponge rubber belt 44, the upper flight of conveyor 23 and rail members 46 and 48. The heaters 52 and 64 are shown in communication with the area of the primary oven through openings in rail members 46 and 43 whereby a current of heated fluid is directed in a path transverse the path of travel or" the conveyor 28 carrying the packaged product. The packaged product is shown with the cover material 53 overlying the same and in the drawing, the cover material 53 has not been subjected to heat from the heaters 52 and 64. Only a portion of the cover material 53, that which is shown extending over the side wall of the container is eflected by the heat and will be shrunk into engagement with the container. The remaining portion of the cover material as mentioned previously will be shrunk in a second stage by passing through a secondary oven 54.

Shown in FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating the packaged product in the three stages during the covering process. The packaged product is shown with the cover material 53 laid thereon and before it passes under the loosely hanging belt 44. As shown, one of the packaged products is just emerging from under the loosely hanging sponge rubber belt 44, the product being carried on conveyor 28. The cover material 53 has been shrunk into engagement with the container during its passage under belt 44, but as shown, the portion of the cover overlying the product is in a wrinkled condition not having been effected during the initial stage of shrinking thereof. A third packaged product is shown after having emerged from a secondary oven 54. The cover material 53 is now tightly shrunk over the raised portion of the product carried in the container. This is brought about by the elevated temperature in the secondary oven 54. The temperature is raised in the secondary oven as previously mentioned by heaters S6 and 58.

The oven 54 may be open on each of its ends, however, in its preferred form and in order to prevent a substantial heat loss, the open portions are provided with a fabric curtain.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, modifications and variations thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art. However, such modifications and variations are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Packaging apparatus for sealing a cover of heat shrinkable material over top and side portions of a container, said cover initially overlying said top portion comprising: a heating station; conveyor means for conveying said container through said heating station; said heating station including a loosely hanging, heat insulating, endless belt member having a portion spaced from said conveyor a distance such that said portion will engage one part of said cover and cause another part of said cover to drape over the sides of said container; and drive means for said belt member, whereby in said heating station said one part of said cover is unaected by the heat -in said heating station and whereby said other part of said cover is heated and caused to shrink into engagement with said side portions of said container.

2. Apparatus as deiined in claim` 1 further compr-ising: a second heating station associated with said conveyor and longitudinally spaced `from said belt member whereby in said second heating station said one part of said cover is heated and caused to shrink.

3. Apparatus` as defined in claim 1 wherein said belt member is adjustable toward and 4away yfrom said conveyor means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first Leating station further comprises heating means adjacent each side of said conveyor.

5. Packaging apparatus for products carried in a container wherein at least a portion of said products extend above the `container walls and wherein a heat shrinkable cover initially overlies said portion of said products and a portion of said container walls comprising: generally horizontal conveyor meansI for said container and product; a loosely hanging endless belt member in vertically spaced relation to said conveyor means, the distance between said belt member and said conveyor means being such that part of said belt member engages the part of said cover vwhich overlies `said products thereby causing the remainder of said cover to drape over said portion of said container walls; means for ldriving said belt member; rail members adjacent each edge of said conveyor and supporting a portion of the peripheral edges of said belt member out ot contact with said conveyor means; heating means associated with said rail members, whereby said conveyor means, said belt member and said rail members define an open-ended oven and whereby said remainder of said cover is heated and caused to shrink into contact with said container walls as said conveyor moves said container and product Vthrough said oven.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said rail members include ywall portions defining heat conducting openings and wherein said heating means include Fluid heating means ihaving outlets in communication with said openended oven through said openings in said wall portions.

7. Apparatus :as in claim 5 further comprising: a second oven associated with said conveyor means and longitudinally spaced from said firstamentioned oven.

8. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said loosely hanging belt member is a heat insulating belt.

9. An apparatus as` defined in claim 1 which further includes means .toy support a portion of the peripheral edges of said loosely hanging belt member out of contact with said conveyor means.

l0. An :apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said support means includes [longitudinally extending rail members adjacent each side of said conveyor.

1l. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said rail members include wall portions defining heat conducting openings.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 including heater means having outlets secured to said rail members in alignment with said heat conducting openings.

13. An apparatus as dened in claim 11 wherein said loosely hanging belt member is formed of flexible sponge silicone rubber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,987,231 Engel Ian. 8, 1935 2,480,851 Goss Sept 6, 1949 2,597,041 Stokes May 20, 1952 2,880,522 Rollins Apr. 7, 1959 2,904,943 Dreyfus et al. Sept. 22, 1959 2,932,927 Segerstrom et al. Apr. 19, 1960 2,976,655 Dreyfus et al. Mar. 28, 1961 2,984,058 Meissner May 16, 1961 3,034,271 Carpenter et al. May 15, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0E CORRECTION Patent No. 3,115,735 December 31 1963 John W. Harrison It is hereby Certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring Correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as Corrected below.

Column l, line 2L, for "shrnkagle" Aread shrnkable column 2, line 28 for "caued to drape the over" read caused to drape over column 4 line 57U for the claim reference numeral "Il" read S- l Signed and sealed this 30th day of June 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W; SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents mesng Gffiner 

1. PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR SEALING A COVER OF HEAT SHRINKABLE MATERIAL OVER TOP AND SIDE PORTIONS OF A CONTAINER, SAID COVER INITIALLY OVERLYING SAID TOP PORTION COMPRISING: A HEATING STATION; CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CONVEYING SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAID HEATING STATION; SAID HEATING STATION INCLUDING A LOOSELY HANGING, HEAT INSULATING, ENDLESS BELT MEMBER HAVING A PORTION SPACED FROM SAID CONVEYOR A DISTANCE SUCH THAT SAID PORTION WILL ENGAGE ONE 